Bookshelf Speakers

Kitting out your home with a stereo system or home cinema package might seem like a good idea on paper. If you then realise that you have no room for tower speakers and you’re not keen on the idea of drilling holes in your wall to mount surround speakers, why not pick up a set of bookshelf speakers? These smaller, attractively designed speakers are sized perfectly to fit on existing shelving throughout your home. And because you can find many models with attractive speaker enclosures made of hardwoods or high gloss plastics, they’ll easily blend with your décor while providing phenomenal sound. Depending on your budget, you have a choice of wired or wireless bookshelf speakers from top manufacturers such as Denon, Boston Acoustics, JBL and Wharfdale. If you’re not sure what model of bookshelf speaker is for you, you can do a bit of research with our expert and user reviews to narrow down the field. ... View more - View less

JBL STUDIO 225C

LD Systems SAT 42G2

Bookshelf speakers

Inroduction

Bookshelf speakers are the perfect choice if you are looking for speakers that you can neatly tuck away and blend in to your room. They are handy if you don’t have enough space to fit in tower speakers or you just don’t want big speakers dominating your room. However, if you have a big room to fill with sound, larger floor-standing speakers may be the best choice.

The best bookshelf speakers can offer excellent performance with a rival sound quality, with the added bonus of not taking up as much space. The most popular location for bookshelf speakers is on a cabinet, built-in shelf or on a side table. Once you have established where your speakers will be located, it’s a good idea to measure the area first so you can find speakers with the right dimensions to fit.

Set-up

The ideal position for speakers is at ear level and if you want to place the speakers on a bookshelf or cabinet, then models with front or non-ported cabinets are best. If you want to attach the bookshelf speakers on to the wall then at least a 3 to 6 inch distance from the wall is recommended for the best sound quality. The speakers generally come in a range of colours and designs - and brands such as Pyle - offer a wide variety of custom finishes that could match your décor.

Small bookshelf speakers, because of their size, struggle to provide as much bass as bigger, floor-standing speakers. However, if you are serious about your sound quality, then it could be an option to invest in a subwoofer to provide the bass. If you don’t have the space for a subwoofer, or don’t want to pay the extra money, then bookshelf speakers that put out more than 60Hz should suffice for decent bass levels.

Integration

If you have multiple speakers, especially as part of a home cinema system, then you are guaranteed a large of amount of wires and cables. If you’re fed-up with this clutter, then wireless speakers are an excellent option. They can be a great option if you want to listen to music outside the house, too and most wireless signals will transmit through walls. While you can buy separate, totally wireless speakers - a wireless speaker system, as part of a home theatre system, is a bit misleading - it is more a case of less wires. Wires are normally required to connect them to a power source but this can still tidy up the overall appearance and reduce clutter. If you do purchase totally wireless speakers that run off batteries, it may be worth paying extra for a model with rechargeable capabilities, and this could save you money on new batteries in the long run.

There are many bookshelf speakers on the market. If you remain unsure, then it is worth checking a few online reviews to get some feedback from other consumers to help you make your final choice.